Article dispensing apparatus with automatic dribble feed

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing a predetermined number of small, solid, objects, such as pills, including a hopper having a grooved spout extending from one side of the hopper, a vibrating device for vibrating the hopper to move the objects through the spout, a concussion or impact-type detector positioned in the path of the objects so that the objects consecutively impinge on the detector, and a counter connected to the detector for counting the objects consecutively impinging on the counter. The groove in the spout is sinuous and inclined to assure that a plurality of the objects will not be discharged from the spout simultaneously, and the hopper is mounted in a vibrating bed. The detector is electrically connected to the counter through a sensitive microphonic amplification system which permits relatively high speed detection and counting.

United States Patent Inventors Harry S. Boyd, Jr.

Norman; v David M. Boyd, 1214 Barkley Ave., Norman, Okla. 73069 Appl.No. 808,187

Filed Mar. 18, 1969 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUSWITl-l AUTOMATIC DRIBBLE FEED 19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 221/7, 133/8,198/40.'l98/220;-22l/l3 Int. Cl G07f 11/00FieldotSearch 133/1,8; 221/2, 3, 7,13;198/40, 220

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,736 9/1917 Barrett 133/12,632,588 3/1953 Hoar,Jr 3,455,436 7/1969 Berke ABSTRACT: Apparatus fordispensing a predetermined number of small, solid, objects, such aspills, including a hopper having a grooved spout extending from one sideof the hopper, a vibrating device for vibrating the hopper to move theobjects through the spout, a concussion or impact-type detectorpositioned in the path of the objects so that the objects consecutivelyimpinge on the detector, and a counter connected to the detector forcounting the objects consecutively impinging on the counter. The groovein the spout is sinuous and inclined to assure that a plurality of theobjects will not be discharged from the spout simultaneously, and thehopper is mounted in a vibrating bed. The detector is electricallyconnected to the counter through a sensitive microphonic amplificationsystem which permits relatively high speed detection and counting.

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS WITII AUTOMATIC DRIBBLE FEED BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION vention relates to apparatus for accurately counting outpills for such purposes as prescription filling and the like.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Anumber of devices are disclosedin the patent literature which are alleged to function effectively inautomatically counting out a predetermined number of small, solidobjects, such as nuts, screws, pills, and tablets. The need for devicesof this type is felt in many industries, and in a number of instances,the machines are successfully employed. The specific characteristics ofthe objects being counted out differ from field to field, however, as dothe requirements of counting speed, cost of the apparatus, and precisionof count. Thus, for example, it is not surprising that in the case ofthe latter criterion, i.e., precision of count, a counting apparatuswhich may be accurate to the extend of :t five articles in a totaldelivered number of 500 of such articles, may be entirely adequate forcounting nails or screws, but too imprecise for the purpose of countingwatch jewels, expensive drugs in the form of pills, and other suchcostly articles.

To our knowledge, a relatively inexpensive, compact, easily used andcompletely automatic apparatus has not yet been devised which willefi'rciently and accurately dispense a predetermined number of pills ortablets to'a bottle or other container in the manner which is presentlyaccomplished manually by pharmacists in filling prescriptions. Suchdispensation is presently accomplished by merely placing a number of thepills in a receptacle having a funnel or spout like discharge chute,visually and manually separating the surplus of pills from the numberprescribed, and then manually dumping the prescribed number of pillsthrough the discharge chute into the pill bottle. This procedure is timeconsuming and, in view of the considerable time delays often experiencedby patients in getting prescriptions filled, can hardly be justified ifany reliable and relatively inexpensive apparatus for automating theprocedure now exists. I

The apparatuses heretofore proposed for automatically counting outpredetermined numbers of pills have failed to find widespread usage bypharmacists for several reasons. Many are complicated and expensive inconstruction, thus requiring a high initial capital investment, andrequiring a fairly high level of skill and dexterity in their successfuluse. Others include detection and counting components which are notsufficiently sensitive or accurate to merit any confidence in theirperformance, or which, in the same vein, count accurately only atrelatively slow rates of dispensation, and thus do little to assist thepharmacist in reducing his backlog of prescriptions to be filled unlesshe is prepared to accept counting inaccuracies at the higher speeds ofdispensation. In yet other types of apparatus which have been proposedbut not widely used for this purpose, inaccuracies result, not from thedetection and counting elements of the system, but from the inability ofthe apparatus to deliver individual pills in consecutive, isolatedsequence to the zone in which they are detected.

Examples of some of the prior patented proposals for counting out anumber of pills are those which are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,544,894to Nelson and U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,588 to Hoar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present inventionprovides an improved automatically counting dispensing apparatus whichwill accurately count out a predetermined number of small objects, suchas pills or tablets, at a high rate of speed with no abnormal skillrequired by the part of the operator of the apparatus. Broadlydescribed, the invention comprises a hopper for containing the objects,means for vibrating the hopper, a sinuously grooved chute extendingoutwardly from the hopper, an impact type detector positioned oppositethe open end of the chute, and a counter connected to the detector forcounting each object detected by the detector.

The groove in the chute through which the articles to be counted movefrom the hopper is an elongated, sinuously curved groove which hasundulations formed therein over its length in a geometric pattern suchas to apply decreasing frictional resistance to the movement of thearticles from the hopper to the discharge end of the chute.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooved chute ispositioned so that the sinuous groove therein is inclined slightlyupwardly from the hopper, and the means for vibrating the hopperpreferably comprises a solenoid type vibrating apparatus which deliversa relatively slow, oscillating stroke in the direction of movement ofthe articles to be counted through the groove in the chute. It thendelivers a retractive stroke to the chute and the hopper whichisrelatively rapid in comparison to the forwardly thrusting stroke. It isalso preferred to provide a switching arrangement in the electricalcircuitry which controls the vibratory frequency of the vibrating deviceso that the frequency of the vibrations can be decreased automaticallyat a time when the articles to be counted have been delivered andcounted out to within a small number of the total count which isdesired. This arrangement at that time decreases the momentum ofthe-individual articles being moved through the chute, and thus enhancesthe accuracy with which a desiredspecific number of articles may bdelivered from the discharge end of the chute.

An important aspect of the invention is the type of detector employed.It is important that the detector have good sensitivity and goodresolving power" to permit accurate counting at high speeds. Thus, itmust be able to individually detect two articles which leave the chutewithin a small fraction of a second of each other. Photocell-typedetectors have been found to be unreliable in this respect. Theimpact-type detector has been very successfully employed, however, usinga microphonic pickup with substantial amplification of the signal.

The automatically counting dispensing apparatus as thus describedachieves a major object of the invention, which is to provide a devicecapable of automatically delivering a precise, predetermined number ofsmall objects to a container in a rapid manner.

Another object achieved by the invention is to provide a pill countingapparatus which can be economically constructed and sold, and can beused with a minimum amount of skill for accurately quantitativelyfilling many drug prescriptions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article countingapparatus which is of mechanically sturdy construction, and ischaracterized in having a long and trouble-free operating life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following detailed description of the invention is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan. view of a dispensingand counting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the dispensing and counting apparatusdepicted in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3-6 are sectional views taken along lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6,respectively, of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the dispensing and counting apparatusdepicted in FIG. 1 as it appears when viewed from the end of the deviceupon which the counter is mounted and facing toward the chute andhopper.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the dispensing and counting apparatusdepicted in FIG. 1 as they apparatus appears when viewed from theopposite end thereof from that which is seen in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an electrical circuit diagram of the electrical circuitryutilized in the dispensing and counting apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONReferring initially to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, one embodiment of thedispensing and counting apparatus useful in the practice of theinvention is depicted therein. In referring to the drawings, referencenumerals having lead lines with arrowheads attached thereto will be usedto indicate combinations of a plurality of structural elementscontributing to a major unitary function. Plain lead lines will be usedto interconnect reference numerals to single or individual elements ofstructure.

The dispensing and counting apparatus of the invention includes a baseunit 10 of generally rectangular configuration which operates as asupporting structure for mounting the mechanical operating elements ofthe invention, and which carries suitable, preferably resilientsupporting legs 12 as depicted in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8. Mounted on the upperside of the base unit 10 is an automatic, presettable subtractivecounter 14 which includes a scale 16 having numerical indicia thereon,and a pointer 18 secured to the upper end of a shaft 20 for rotationwith the shaft about its longitudinal axis. The counter 14 can be anysuitable type of subtractive counter which is capable of being preset toa number and then, as each of a number of objects is sensed and countedand an impulse delivered to the counter, will rotate the pointer, movingto the next lowest number until the counter has counted out to zero, atwhich time the counting circuit is automatically opened. As will behereinafter explained, it is desirable to modify such counters in such away that the associated electrical circuitry is changed after thecounter has counted down to a low digit of, say, between two and five,in order to vary the vibrational characteristics of the vibrating deviceused in the dispensing apparatus of the invention.

Also located on the upper side of the dispensing and counting base unit10 is a hopper support plate 22 which is secured at its lower side to apair of downwardly depending brackets 24 and 26. The bracket 24 and 26are in turn secured to the upper end of a pair of upwardly extendingresilient members 28 and 30 which function as springs for a purposehereinafter described. The lower ends of the resilient members 28 and 30are suitably anchored to a base plate 32 of a vibrator structuredesigiated generally by reference character 34, and secured to the baseunit 10. The vibrator structure 34 includes a housing 36 which enclosesa solenoid having an armature 38 projecting therefrom, the solenoidbeing hereinafter described in greater detail.

Mounted upon the hopper support plate 22 is an elongated hopper assemblydesignated generally by reference numeral 40. The hopper assembly 40includes a spout 41 formed by a pair of vertically extending sidewalls42 and 44 which are secured at their upper edges to downwardly andinwardly extending internal walls. One of these internal walls isdesignated by reference numeral 46 and the other internal wall isdesignated by reference numeral 48. As will be perceived in referring toFIGS. 1 and 3-6, the internal walls 46 and 48 are of undulatingconfiguration so that they slope downwardly to, and define, a sinuousgroove or channel 50 which is disposed in the bottom of the elongatedspout 41. At one end of the groove 50, the groove communicates with ahopper 52. The hopper is closed by an end wall 54. The end of the spout41 opposite the hopper 51 is open, as is the groove 50 located in thebottom of the spout.

Mounted on the base unit 10 is a detector support post 56 having a headelement 58 pivotally connected to the upper end thereof. The headelement 58 carries a pressure sensitive or impact-type detector 60 whichincludes a pressure sensitive diaphragm and other conventionalmicrophonic pickup ele ments. The pickup elements are connected to anelectrical lead 62 which extends down along the support post 56 into theinterior of the base unit 10. Positioned adjacent the detector supportpost 62 in a position to receive articles to be counted as they aredeflected by the pressure sensitive diaphragm is a pill vial 64.

It will be noted in referring to FIG. I and FIGS. 3-6 that the groove 50in the bottom of the chute or spout 41 is characterized in having aparticular configuration which is an important aspect of the presentinvention. Thus, the groove 50 is sinuous, and it will be noted inreferring to FIG. 1 that the curved path through which the grooveextends becomes less tortuous or curved at points progressively furtherremoved along the groove from the hopper 52. The purpose of this will behereinafter explained. It should also be pointed out that in a preferredembodiment of the invention, the groove 50 is made to extend upwardlywith respect to the horizontal as it progresses from the hopper 52outwardly toward the open end of the spout 41. Thus, articles movingthrough'the groove 50 from the hopper 52 are traveling uphill" at a veryslight angle.

An amplifier housing 68 is supported on the base I0 and encloses, amongother components hereinafter described. a potentiometer (not seen) whosemovable tap is connected to a control pointer 70 which permits manualadjustment of the sensitivity of the detector 6 0.

The electrical circuitry utilized in the dispensing apparatus of theinvention is depicted in FIG. 9 of the drawings. A plug 72 is providedfor connecting the apparatus to a suitable source of alternatingcurrent, and one lead from the plug 72 is connected to a tenninal bo'ard74. The other lead is connected through a fuse 76 to one terminal of athree-pole double-throw switch designated generally by reference numeral78. The poles of the switch 78 are labeled A, B, C, D, E and F in thedrawing. The alternating .current from the power source is passed, inthe proper position of the switch 78, through a transformer 80 where itis stepped down to the required voltage and then is converted to directcurrent by a full wave rectifier 82. The direct current is passedthrough a filter system 84 to an amplifier and frequency converter 86which amplifies signals received from the microphonic pickup 60 andconverts them into a usable frequency.

The amplifier and frequency converter 86 passes the amplified signals,after conversion to a suitable frequency, to the coil 88 of a relaydesignated generally by reference numeral 90. The normally open contacts92 of the relay 90 are connected in a circuit receiving alternativecurrent from the AC power source via the three-pole double-throw switch78. The circuit which contains the normally open contacts 92 alsocontains a coil 94 which forms a part of the subtracting counter 14,many suitable types of which are available. The subtracting counter 14operates by initially having a numerical count manually set thereinto,and this count is then counted out with one count being consecutivelysubtracted upon each energization of the coil 94 until a zero reading isreached. The operation of subtracting counters of this type is wellunderstood by those skilled in the art. At the time that the subtractingcounter reaches the zero reading, the mechanical wheels of the countercarry a stud or projection which, in moving to the zero reading, opensthe contacts 96 which are included in a circuit connected in parallelwith the circuit containing the counter coil 94 and the contacts 92.

Connected to one terminal of the movable element of the double-throwthree-pole switch 78 is a coil 98 which, when energized, actuates thearmature 38 of the vibration device 34. The armature 38 is thusextended, and is subsequently retracted by the spring elements 28 and39, hereinbefore described, when the coil 98 is deenergiaed. Connectedin series with the coil 98 is a fixed resistor 100 and a variableresistor 102. The lead from the variable resistor 102 is connected to apole C of the three-pole double-throw switch 78. A second pole B of thethree-pole double-throw switch 78 is con nected through the contacts 96to the terminal board 74, and through the terminal board to one side ofthe AC power source via the plug 72. The third pole A of the three-poledouble-throw switch is connected to one of the contacts 96 to theterminal board which is connected through another contact to thetransformer 80. I

Extending between the lead which interconnects the variable resistor 102with the pole C of the switch 78, and the lead which connects thenormally closed contacts 96 with the terminal board 74 is a lead 104which contains a pair of normally open contacts 106 and a fixed resistor108. It should be pointed out that the subtracting counter utilized inthe inven tion carries on the wheels or moving mechanism forming a partthereof, a stud or protuberance which is brought, by the counting downof the counter, into mechanical contact with the electrical contacts 106at a time when the counter reaches a count of, say, three, four or five,so as to close thenormally open contacts 106 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

OPERATION In the operation of the dispensing apparatus of the inventionfor counting out a prescribed number of pills or tablets, for ex ample,a pharmacist initially removes from a large container, pills or tabletsof a certain type which it is desired to dispense to a patient's pillvial in a predetermined quantity. A number exceeding by a substantialamount, the quantity of pills which are to be counted out in filling theprescription, are first placed in the hopper 52. The counter 14 is thenset to count out the desired number of pills by moving the pointer 18 tothe indicia indicating thus number. The double-throw three-pole switch78 is then thrown from the neutral position in which it is shown in FIG.9 to a position in which the circuit is made through the switch to thepoles A, B and C.

With the switch 78 in this position, alternating current is deliveredthrough the plug 72, the switch 78, and the terminal board 74 to thecoil of the transformer 80. This energizes the detector circuit whichincludes the detector 60, the amplifier and frequency converter 86, thefull wave rectifier 82 and the filter circuit 84. Simultaneously,through the connections on the terminal 'board 74, closure of the switchin the manner described makes a circuit through the tenninal board 74,switch pole C, through the variable resistor 102, the fixed resistor100, the coil 98 of the vibrating device, the switch 78, the normallyclosed contacts 96, and the .terminal board. Thus, the vibrator device34 is energized by the rapid, periodic energizations of the coil 98 asthe rectified alternating current pulses therethrough. The fixedresistor 100 will have been selected, and the variable resistor 102 willhave been selected, and the variable resistor 102 will have been set, sothat the frequency with which the armature 39 of the vibrating device 34is reciprocated is controlled to impart a desired vibrating motion tothe hopper assembly 40.

As the hopper assembly 40 commences to vibrate, the pills or tabletscontained in the hopper 52 pass through the gate" or entrance to thesinuous groove 50. As the pills or tablets enter this groove, theycommence to move through a curved or sinuous path in following thegroove. Due to the necessity of the pills to move through this curvedpath, they encounter frictional resistance as they undergo the necessaryturning or curving movement. The inclination of the inside walls 46 and48 and the sinuosity of the groove 50 are selected so that the pills ortablets will move with an approximate predetermined velocity along thegroove 50. As has previously been mentioned, the stroke of the armature38 of the vibrating device 34 is relatively slow in comparison to therate of return of the hopper assembly 40 under the influence of thefiberglass spring members 28 and 30. Thus, the motion which the hopperassembly 40 undergoes during the vibration imparted thereto a relativelyslow outward movement (that is, movement in the direction of travel ofthe pill or tablet along the groove 50), followed by a relatively quickretractive movement. This motion which the hopper assembly 40 undergoesduring the vibration imparted thereto a relatively slow outward movement(that is, movement in the direction of travel of the pill or tabletalong the groove 50), followed by a relatively quick retractivemovement. This motion has the effect of tending to advance the pills ortablets over a distance roughly equivalent to the length of the strokeof the armature 38, and to then quickly pull the hopper assemblybackward to 5 leave the pill substantially in its advanced position.Thus, the pills are in actuality advanced outwardly along the groove 50in a series of very minute incremental forward movements. This type ofvibratory motion is sufficiently effective in advancing the pills thatit is desirable to provide a slight upward inclination in the groove 50with respect to the horizontal. This prevents any gain in momentum bythe pills as a result of gravitational influence, and acts as adesirable damper on the actual speed of advance of the pills.

As has been previously described, the groove 50 is curved over itslength through a sinuous path in which the turns constantly undergo anincrease in their radius of curvature. Stated differently, the groove 50tends to become more linear in a direction progressively removed fromthe hopper 52 toward the open end of the spout 41. This configuration ofthe groove 50 results in progressively less frictional resistance beingoffered to the pills as they advance along the groove. Therefore, as thepills move outwardly in the groove toward the open end of the spout 41,they tend to accelerate. The result of this accelerating motion by theleading pills in the groove 50 is to increase the spacing between thesepills and those which follow it from the hopper 52. Accordingly,although a number of pills may be bunched together in the first portionof the sinuous groove 50 adjacent the hopper 52, these pills tend toseparate and become more widely spaced from each other as they proceedalong the groove 50.

As the first pill to move down the groove 50 reaches the end of thegroove, falls from the spout 41, and strikes the diaphragm forming aportion of the detector 60, a signal is transmitted through theelectrical lead 62 to the amplifier and frequency converter 86. Thecontrol potentiometer for controlling the sensitivity of the detector60, and located within the housing 68 may be adjusted as necessary toincrease the sensitivity of the detector 60 where very small pills areutilized, if this should be desirable or necessary.

The signal received by the amplifier and frequency converter 86 from athe detector 60 is converted to a usable frequency, and an outputsignal'at this frequency is delivered from the amplifier to the coil 88.Whenthe coil 88 is energized by a signal which has ultimately originatedat the detector 60, the contacts 92 are closed so that a circuit is madethrough the switch 78 to the counter coil 94. Energization of thecounter coil 94 upon closure of the contacts 92 operates the subtractivecounter to subtract one count and cause the pointer 18 of the counter 14to move to the next lower number on the dial After the signal due toimpact of one pill upon the detector 60 has been amplified, converted infrequency and passed to the coil 88, the coil then becomes deenergizeduntil another pill strikes the diaphragm of the detector 60. Upondeenergization of the coil 88, the contacts 92 open, thus breaking thecircuit to the counter coil 94 and thus deactivating the counter. Whenanother pill emerges from the chute 41 and strikes the diaphragm of thedetector 60, the counting sequence described is repeated, with thecounter coil 94 again being energized to subtract another count. Thisprocedure is repeated until a predetermined low count on the subtractivecounter has been reached. This low count may be any desired number, butin most instances will be a number from three to five, inclusive.

When the counter has reached this preselected low count, a stud orprotuberance appropriately located on the moving mechanism of thecounter is brought into contact with the normally open contacts 196 inthe electrical lead 104. This engagement of the normally open contacts106 with the moving mechanism of the counter when a preselected lowcount has been reached closes these contacts to close the electricalcircuit including the resistance 108. Closure of this circuiteffectively divides the current which flows through the variableresistor 102, the fixed resistor 109, and the coil 98 of the vibratingdevice 34 with the result that the frequency of vibration of thearmature 38 is substantially reduced, depending, of course, upon themagnitude of the resistance 108.

This reduction in the frequency of vibration of the armature 38 resultsin a corresponding slowing down of the vibratory motion imparted to thehopper assembly 40. This is a desirable feature of the present inventionin that it reduces the forward momentum of the few remaining pills whichare to be discharged from the spout 41 at the end of the count so thatno over-count is likely to occur as a result of those pills which exceedthe number desired, and which are located in the groove 50, beingdischarged from the end of the spout under the influence of theirmomentum. in other words, slowing down the vibratory device 34 andconsequently the hopper assembly 40 near the end of the countingincreases the accuracy with which a particular desired number of pillsmay be counted out without the possibility of error resulting from someexcessive pills escaping from the spout 41 and striking the detector 60.

After the subtractive counter has counted out to zero, another stud orprojection on the wheels or other moving mechanism of the counterfunctions to open the normally closed contacts 96. Opening of thesecontacts breaks the circuit which includes the variable resistor 102,the fixed resistor 100 and the coil 98 so that the vibrating device 34is deenergized. Thus, no further motion is imparted to the pills in thehopper or to pills then standing in the groove 50 and the count iscompleted. The pharmacist can then seal the vial or pill bottle 64 whichhas received those pills deflected thereinto from the diaphragm of thedetector 60 and present it to the patient with an accurate count ofpills having been made.

It is, in some instances, desirable that, upon completion of the task ofcounting out a preselected number of pills, those pills remaining in thehopper 52 and in the groove 50 be rapidly returned too a jar or otherstorage container. For this purpose, such a container may be placed atany suitable position so as to receive pills discharged from the end ofthe spout 41 and the three-pole, double-throw switch 78 then thrown tothe alternate position so that it contacts the poles D, E and F. Whenthe switch is in this position, an electrical circuit is made throughthe fixed resistance 100 and the coil 98. The variable resistance 102,however, is no longer in the circuit in series with the fixed resistance100. Thus, the voltage across the coil 98 is greatly increased with theresult that the armature 38 vibrates much more rapidly than is the casewhen the variable resistance 102 is in the circuit. In this condition,the hopper assembly 40 is vibrated extremely rapidly or at high speed,with the result that all of the pills contained in the hopper assembly,whether they be in the hopper 52 or in the groove 50, are very rapidlymoved down the groove 50 and into the storage jar. At the high speed ofvibration which is provided, in a matter of a very few seconds, all ofthe pills which may have been contained in the hopper assembly 40 at theend of the countout are returned to the storage jar. The switch 78 maythen be opened to the position shown in FIG. 9 to completely deenergizethe apparatus.

It should be pointed out that during the counting cycle, the variableresistor 102 permits fine adjustment of the vibrating frequency of thevibrating device 34 so that the apparatus can be accommodated to widevariations in pill sizes, or to low voltage power sources, etc.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereindescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes inthe described structure and mode of operation can be effected withoutdeparture from the basic principles of the invention. For example, theswitch 78 can be modified and located in such a way that the placementof the pill vial in position to receive pills will automaticallycommence the operation of the dispensing and counting device. Moreover,such modifications of the switch 78 can also include the location of asuitable switching device so that when the storage jar is placed inposition, the high frequency vibration runout step will be automaticallycommenced. A delay switch can be incorporated in the circuitry whichwill automatically deenergize the machine at the end of, say, a tensecond runout rate. The machine may also be constructed with a suitablemicroswitch in place of the three-pole double-throw switch 78. Thesevariations and changes are but a few of those which can be effected inthe depicted and described structure without relinquishing reliance uponthe basic principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of articles comprising:

means for containing the articles;

means projecting from the containing means and having a curvilineargroove therein for discharging them at a location remote from saidcontaining means, said groove being configured to offer decreasingresistance to articles moving along the length of said groove from saidcontaining means;

a detector device positioned at said remote location in the path ofdischarge of said articles from said groove for detecting each articledischarged from said groove;

counter means connected to said detector device and responsive toarticle detection thereby; and

a vibrating device connected to said containing means and to saidcounter means for vibrating said containing means and said meansprojecting therefrom until said counter means has counted apredetermined number of times in response to said detector device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is sinuous inconfiguration.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove is substantiallycurved through a serpentine configuration over a major portion of itslength from said containing means outwardly, with the radius ofcurvature thereof continuously increasing.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is upwardlyinclined over its length, and wherein said vibrating device vibratessaid projecting means in a manner to move said articles upwardly in saidgroove from said containing means to said remote location.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vibrating devicecomprises:

means for periodically pushing said containing means in the directionwhich said groove extends therefrom; and

means for retracting said containing means in a direction away from saidgroove at a substantially faster rate than said pushing means pushessaid containing means and after each pushing stroke of said pushingmeans.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for periodicallypushing said containing means comprises a periodically energizedsolenoid having an armature connected to said containing means; and

wherein said retracting means comprises spring means resilientlyopposing the pushing stroke developed by said solenoid and resilientlybiasing said containing means in said direction away from said grooveupon termination of said pushing stroke.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said detector devicecomprises an impact-type detector having a microphonic pickup fordetecting articles impinging on said detector device.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 and further characterized asincluding means for selectively varying the sensitivity of saidmicrophonic pickup.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said counter means is asubtractive sequential counter into which a preselected count number maybe set, and which is responsive to signals from said detector device tocount from said preselected count number to zero in correlation to thesuccessive detection of a number of said articles corresponding to saidpreselected count number; and

wherein said apparatus is further characterized in having electricalcircuitry interconnecting said vibrating device and said subtractivesequential counter for energizing said vibrating device during the timesaid counter is counting from said preselected count number to zero.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said counter further includes means for closing an electrical circuitwhen said counter has counted to within three through five counts ofzero; and wherein said apparatus further includes a second electricalcircuit in parallel with said first-mentioned electrical circuit fordividing the current flowing through said firstmentioned electricalcircuit to thereby decrease the vibrational frequency of said vibratingdevice, said second circuit being positioned for closure by said closingmeans included in said counter. 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 andfurther characterized to include means for reducing the vibrationalfrequency at a selected time during the counting by said counter.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 and further characterized toinclude means for energizing and increasing the vibrational frequency ofsaid vibrator device over the vibrational frequency thereof which occursduring the counting by said counter at a time after said counter hascounted to zero.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said vibrating devicecomprises:

means for periodically pushing said containing means in the directionwhich said groove extends therefrom; and

means for retracting saidcontaining means in a direction away from saidgroove at a substantially faster rate than said pushing means pushessaid containing means and after each pushing stroke of said pushingmeans.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said detector comprises animpact-type detector having a rnicrophonic pickup for detecting articlesimpinging on said detector device.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said means for containingthe articles comprises a hopper, and said projecting means comprises achute extending from said hopper and having said groove in the bottomthereof and aligned with the bottom of sad hopper.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim land further characterized to includemeans for selectively varying the vibrational frequency of saidvibrating device.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for selectivelyvarying the vibrational frequency of said vibrating device compriseselectrical circuitry connected to said vibration device and including:

a plurality of electrical resistances; and

switching means for electrically connecting selected amounts ofelectrical resistance to said vibrating device.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to includemeans for selectively varying the sensitivity of said detecting device.

19. Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of articles comprising:

means for containing the articles;

means extending away from the containing means and having a groovetherein for receiving articles from the containing means, and fordischarging them at a location remote from the containing means;

a detector device positioned at said remote location in the path ofdischarge of articles from said groove for detecting each articledischarged from said groove;

counter means connected to said detector device and responsive toarticle detection thereby;

a vibrating device connected to said containing means and to saidcounter means for vibrating said containing means and said meansprojecting therefrom until said counter means has counted apredetermined number of times in response to said detector device; and

means for automatically varying the vibrational frequency of saidvibrating device when said counter means has counted a preselectednumber of pills.

P0405" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 558 O04 D d January 26 1971 Inventor) Harry S. Boyd, Jr. and David M.Boyd i It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shownbelow:

Column 5, line 72, after "ment. delete the following --This motion whichthe hopper assembly 40 undergoes during the vibration imparted thereto arelatively slow outward movement (that is, movement in the direction oftravel of, the pill or tablet along the groove 50) followed by arelatively quick retactive movement.--

Column 8, line 15, after "therein for" insert --receiving articles fromthe containing means-- I Column 10, line 2, "sad hopper" should" be"said hopper".

Signed and sealed this 8th day 01- June 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETC HER, JR.

Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J'B Commissioner of Patents

1. Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of articles comprising: meansfor containing the articles; means projecting from the containing meansand having a curvilinear groove therein for discharging them at alocation remote from said containing means, said groove being configuredto offer decreasing resistance to articles moving along the length ofsaid groove from said containing means; a detector device positioned atsaid remote location in the path of discharge of said articles from saidgroove for detecting each article discharged from said groove; countermeans connected to said detector device and responsive to articledetection thereby; and a vibrating device connected to said containinGmeans and to said counter means for vibrating said containing means andsaid means projecting therefrom until said counter means has counted apredetermined number of times in response to said detector device. 2.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is sinuous inconfiguration.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove issubstantially curved through a serpentine configuration over a majorportion of its length from said containing means outwardly, with theradius of curvature thereof continuously increasing.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said groove is upwardly inclined over itslength, and wherein said vibrating device vibrates said projecting meansin a manner to move said articles upwardly in said groove from saidcontaining means to said remote location.
 5. Apparatus as defined inclaim 1 wherein said vibrating device comprises: means for periodicallypushing said containing means in the direction which said groove extendstherefrom; and means for retracting said containing means in a directionaway from said groove at a substantially faster rate than said pushingmeans pushes said containing means and after each pushing stroke of saidpushing means.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means forperiodically pushing said containing means comprises a periodicallyenergized solenoid having an armature connected to said containingmeans; and wherein said retracting means comprises spring meansresiliently opposing the pushing stroke developed by said solenoid andresiliently biasing said containing means in said direction away fromsaid groove upon termination of said pushing stroke.
 7. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said detector device comprises an impact-typedetector having a microphonic pickup for detecting articles impinging onsaid detector device.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 and furthercharacterized as including means for selectively varying the sensitivityof said microphonic pickup.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid counter means is a subtractive sequential counter into which apreselected count number may be set, and which is responsive to signalsfrom said detector device to count from said preselected count number tozero in correlation to the successive detection of a number of saidarticles corresponding to said preselected count number; and whereinsaid apparatus is further characterized in having electrical circuitryinterconnecting said vibrating device and said subtractive sequentialcounter for energizing said vibrating device during the time saidcounter is counting from said preselected count number to zero. 10.Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: said counter further includesmeans for closing an electrical circuit when said counter has counted towithin three through five counts of zero; and wherein said apparatusfurther includes a second electrical circuit in parallel with saidfirst-mentioned electrical circuit for dividing the current flowingthrough said first-mentioned electrical circuit to thereby decrease thevibrational frequency of said vibrating device, said second circuitbeing positioned for closure by said closing means included in saidcounter.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 and further characterizedto include means for reducing the vibrational frequency at a selectedtime during the counting by said counter.
 12. Apparatus as defined inclaim 11 and further characterized to include means for energizing andincreasing the vibrational frequency of said vibrator device over thevibrational frequency thereof which occurs during the counting by saidcounter at a time after said counter has counted to zero.
 13. Apparatusas defined in claim 12 wherein said vibrating device comprises: meansfor periodically pushing said containing means in the direction whichsaid groove extends therefrom; and means for retracting said containingmeans in a direction away from said groove at a substantially fasterrate than said pushing means pushes said containing means and after eachpushing stroke of said pushing means.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim13 wherein said detector comprises an impact-type detector having amicrophonic pickup for detecting articles impinging on said detectordevice.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forcontaining the articles comprises a hopper, and said projecting meanscomprises a chute extending from said hopper and having said groove inthe bottom thereof and aligned with the bottom of sad hopper. 16.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to includemeans for selectively varying the vibrational frequency of saidvibrating device.
 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein saidmeans for selectively varying the vibrational frequency of saidvibrating device comprises electrical circuitry connected to saidvibration device and including: a plurality of electrical resistances;and switching means for electrically connecting selected amounts ofelectrical resistance to said vibrating device.
 18. Apparatus as definedin claim 1 and further characterized to include means for selectivelyvarying the sensitivity of said detecting device.
 19. Apparatus fordispensing a plurality of articles comprising: means for containing thearticles; means extending away from the containing means and having agroove therein for receiving articles from the containing means, and fordischarging them at a location remote from the containing means; adetector device positioned at said remote location in the path ofdischarge of articles from said groove for detecting each articledischarged from said groove; counter means connected to said detectordevice and responsive to article detection thereby; a vibrating deviceconnected to said containing means and to said counter means forvibrating said containing means and said means projecting therefromuntil said counter means has counted a predetermined number of times inresponse to said detector device; and means for automatically varyingthe vibrational frequency of said vibrating device when said countermeans has counted a preselected number of pills.